Corrections: inmate health care.

Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and charges it with various duties and obligations. Existing law provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that the department operate in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible when purchasing health care services for inmates. Existing law provides that the department may contract with providers of health care services and health care network providers, including, but not limited to, health plans, preferred provider organizations, and other health care network managers. This bill would require the department to maintain a statewide utilization management program, as defined, which would include, but not be limited to, the review, approval, and oversight of community hospital bed usage and case management processes for high medical risk and high medical cost patients. The bill would require the department to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that all adult prisons employ the same statewide utilization management program. The bill would require the department to establish annual quantitative utilization management performance objectives and to report to specified legislative committees on, among other things, its success or failure in meeting those objectives, as specified.